Tobacco-curing apparatus.



.110. 815,093. A 4'PATBNTED MA11;13, 1906.

I o. H. MENU.

TOBACCO UURING APPARATUS..

(wlw

No. 815,093.A

' lowing is a s ecific'ation.4

Uivrr-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i f

CHARLES` H. KEENET, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. 1 TQBAOCO-OURING AF'PABA'rl-.ls` i To all whom It mwyjcopncern: y Be it known that I, CHARLES H. KEENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Hart` ford, inthe county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Tobacco-Curing Apparatus, of which the fol- Tobacco a er being cut is hung insheds for curing. Duri-ng the process of curing under paratus which is designed to certain atmospheric conditi Ons what is known as pole-sweat is likely to Occur and ruin thel leaves. vThis invention relates to an apprevent polesweat. y A.

`The object Of the invention is'to provide 4a simple apparatus which can be cheaply .in.

stalled in ashed and readilyoperated by comparatively inexperienced persons, which insures such a circulation ofl `air in the' shed that Vthe tobacco-leaves will be uniformly cured and pole-sweat prevented. w f The apparatus that is shown in the drawn ings as embodying-the invention has a numv e ber of tapering tubes that extend the length of the shed near ,theffloon with slots extend-4 ing the entire lengths of the tubes, a motor' and blower'for forcing air into the tubes and causing it t`o flow out through the slots in thin sheets, anda heater for controlling the temperature of the i tubes.

air that is forced into the Figure/14 of the accompanying drawings' l shows aplan of this apparatus in a tobaccoshed. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the scale, a cross-sectional view of one of the same; and Fig. 3 fshows, on uch larger tubes.

f The tubes 1 are preferably formed of suit.

.ably-riveted Isections of galvanized, iron, and

:of the shed near each side sind through the middle. If desired, of course the tubes can A be arranged near each side of the shed or only` down through the middle. These .tubes ta'- per from one end to the' other, the larger ends -navin sufficient Iarea to equalize 'the air-pres- The larger ends of the tub es of the form of apparatus shown are joined near the center vvatl5c one., end ofthe shed and are connected with y substantially as specified. 4o they are desirably located in the lower part I vdriven a motor 3, which lmaybe' a asof delene or other common form of engine. f sired, the inlet of the blower may be connectedwith a heater 4, so that the air which is taken intothe blower and forced into the Pannpedlvrarch 13, 190e.

.Application iiled November 8,1905. Serial No, 286,371.

tubes will be warmed. Extending longitui dinally the entire length of each tube isa slot 5.- These slots may be arranged so that air will blowout at forty-five degrees, or vertically, or at any other 'desired angle. In orxder tO hold the slotted' tubes together, the vare encircled at intervals by bands 6, whic are provided with lugs 7, that lare held toj gether by bolts 8, provided with thumb-nuts 9. By adjusting the thumb-nuts On the bolts and tightening or loosening the bands the width of the slots may be regulated.

With this simple apparatus, which will not `get out of Order and can be .operated by any one, thin sheets Ofair of equal pressure and Athe required temperatureare projected upwardly between the leaves of the tobacco the entire length of the shed, so as tocure the .leavesJ uniformly and revent the collection of dampness which w' l produce The invention claimed is.- 41 A tobacco-curing apparatushaving a tapering tube with a slot extendin On the upper side from end to end of the tu e, a blower with its discharge connected with the large` l7 5 pole-sweat.

end of the 'pe, and a motor for operating the I.

blower, su stantially as specified. t 2. .Atobaccocuring apparatus having a tapering tube with a slot extending from end to end on` its upperI side, a blower with its dise 4 charge connected with the large yend-I of the ipe, a motor for'operating'the blower, and-a heater connected with the inlet of i pering tube with a slot extending from end to theV blower, 9o

end on the upper side 'of the tube, bands enf circling and holding` the tube together at intervals along its length,a blowerwithits discharge connected with the large en'd of the tube/and va motor for Operating the blower,

substantiallyas s ecie Vlitnessesz.y

ETHEL M. LOWE, :HARRY WILLIAMS.`

Lns n. KEENY. A 

